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Yi MH, Liu YU, Liu K, Chen T, Bosco DB, Zheng J, Xie M, Zhou L, Qu W, Wu LJ. Chemogenetic manipulation of microglia inhibits neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 92:78-89. [PMID: 33221486 PMCID: PMC7897256 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia play an important role in the central sensitization and chronic pain. However, a direct connection between microglial function and pain development in vivo remains incompletely understood. To address this issue, we applied chemogenetic approach by using CX3CR1creER/+:R26LSL-hM4Di/+ transgenic mice to enable expression of inhibitory Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (Gi DREADD) in microglia. We found that microglial Gi DREADD activation inhibited spinal nerve transection (SNT)-induced microglial reactivity as well as chronic pain in both male and female mice. Gi DREADD activation downregulated the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) and its downstream target pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). Using in vivo spinal cord recording, we found that activation of microglial Gi DREADD attenuated synaptic transmission following SNT. Our results demonstrate that microglial Gi DREADD reduces neuroinflammation, synaptic function and neuropathic pain after SNT. Thus, chemogenetic approaches provide a potential opportunity for interrogating microglial function and neuropathic pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Hee Yi
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Yong U. Liu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kevin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08854 USA
| | - Tingjun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Dale B. Bosco
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jiaying Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Manling Xie
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Lijun Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wenchun Qu
- Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; Departments of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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